Lastolite unveils two new 'stone effect' panoramic backgrounds for portrait photographers

Studio accessories manufacturer Lastolite has introduced a pair of new stone effects to its panoramic background range. Granite and Limestone are the first textured materials to join the range that currently just includes white, black and Chromakey Green plain finishes.

The Lastolite Panoramic Background system consists of a three-part collapsible frame that is self-supporting once erected. Plain or patterned covers stretch over the frame to form a 4x2.3m/13x7.5ft backdrop suitable for shooting groups, and once packed away the kit measures just 100cmx30cmx35cm/39x12x14in.

The new patterns will be available with or without the panoramic frame, and will cost £306 on their own or £600 with the frame (US prices still to be released). For more information see the Manfrotto website.

Press Release

Lastolite By Manfrotto, the world's leading manufacturer of backgrounds and lighting control systems has announced the launch of the new Panoramic Background in Granite and Limestone.

The Panoramic Background has quickly become the go to background for busy photographers needing a 4m wide, seamless, crease free, collapsible solution. Built around a three-panel collapsible lightweight aluminium framework, the Panoramic background is completely self-supporting so there is no need for additional stands and crossbars. The Panoramic Background is assembled in a matter of minutes and, once assembled, is simply clipped onto the framework. The stretchable cover fabric ensures a flat, crease free surface at all times. Unlike other large seamless background solutions, the Panoramic collapses down to an impressive 100cm x 30cm x 35cm size, making it very easy to transport. The Panoramic Background is perfect for shooting larger groups, shooting with props or creating the negative space in a photograph that agencies so often request.

The new themed covers now bring textured surfaces to the range and perfectly complement the existing black, white and Chromakey Green solid colour surfaces. There are two new covers available – Granite and Limestone. Granite offers a stone texture effect with a full range of grey tones and a dark vignette around the edges, whilst Limestone is much lighter, offering a subtle range of mid to light greys giving the effect of a Limestone surface.

The Granite and Limestone Panoramic background includes the framework and the cover. For existing Panoramic background users the new covers are also available separately.

Click here to see a video of the new Panoramic Background in action https://vimeo.com/230936776

The Granite and Limestone Panoramic Background has an RRP of £600.The Granite and Limestone Panoramic Background covers have an RRP of £306.

For more information, please visit www.manfrotto.co.uk/lastolite

Source: Lastolite unveils two new 'stone effect' panoramic backgrounds for portrait photographers

Digital Media Licensing Association to Help Real Estate Photographers Protect Their Rights

CHANDLER, Ariz., Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Digital Media Licensing Association (DMLA) is launching a registration drive encouraging the growing field of real estate photographers to join the organization. The DMLA says thousands of real estate photographers practicing nationwide and their clients will benefit by taking advantage of the resources, education and guidance gained by years of experience DMLA members have in the visual licensing industry and how to protect visual works.   

Real estate photographers and companies can visit www.digitalmedialicensing.org to join the organization.

DMLA is making a direct membership appeal to real estate photography professionals in light of recent court cases related to copyright infringements of professional real estate listing photographs and the extensive unauthorized uses of real estate images.  As illustrated by recent court cases, such as VHT Studios v. Zillow, photographers and other content creators are not being properly compensated for these excessive uses. Zillow was found guilty of willful copyright infringement by a jury and ordered to pay over four million dollars to VHT Studios in statutory damages.

Real estate is a vital driver of the U.S. economy, with over 1.2 million professional agents being served by over 10,000 professional photographers working to market the average seller's most valuable asset. The nation's largest network of real estate photographers, VHT Studios, is encouraging professional photographers to take advantage of the benefits of DMLA membership. CEO and Co-Founder Brian Balduf says, "Real estate photographers will benefit from the valuable resources that DMLA has to offer.  The chance for the thousands of individual photographers and small companies to come together under one organization to protect our rights and those of our clients is very exciting. We appreciate the DMLA stepping up to help with this very important issue for so many parties. We look forward to working with all of our counterparts in the industry in this effort," Balduf added.

As a DMLA member, real estate photographers can work within the DMLA structure to help establish and communicate licensing guidelines that benefit all interested parties as well as provide some common language around standard uses and restrictions. DMLA has been advocating on behalf of photographers and digital media licensors to protect copyright for more than 60 years.

Membership provides photographers a much stronger voice, as an industry, to direct and enforce the usage of the Intellectual property they create. Even the real estate agents who photograph their own listings will benefit from DMLA's services. RE Photographers can join DMLA as Associate Members for $350 per year while larger RE companies will join as General Members at an annual fee based on the size of the company.

DMLA is also reaching out to major real estate organizations to work in conjunction with them to ensure the clients of real estate photographers have their needs addressed. 

About DMLA:

The Digital Media Licensing Association, Inc. ("DMLA") (formerly known as the Picture Archive Council of America, Inc.) is a not for- profit trade association that represents the interests of entities who license digital media. Founded in 1951, DMLA's membership currently includes over 100 image libraries worldwide that are engaged in licensing millions of images, illustrations, video clips, and other content on behalf of thousands of individual creators. Members include large general libraries, such as Getty Images (US), Inc., Adobe, and Shutterstock, Inc., and smaller specialty libraries, all of which support and provide livelihoods to individual visual media artists. DMLA members also provide a valuable service to the media and commercial users by granting ready access to historical and contemporary collections of visual content that illustrates and illuminates all aspects of our society and culture. Over the years, DMLA has developed licensing standards, promoted ethical business practices, and actively advocated for copyright protection on behalf of its members. In addition, DMLA educates and informs its members on issues including technology, tools, and changes in the marketplace.

Media Contact:

Cathy Aron

714-815-8427

cathy@digitalmedialicensing.org

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-media-licensing-association-to-help-real-estate-photographers-protect-their-rights-300518779.html

SOURCE Digital Media Licensing Association

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Source: Digital Media Licensing Association to Help Real Estate Photographers Protect Their Rights

Pricing Wedding Photographers and Videographers

On your wedding day, you want to live in the moment—which is why it's so important to hire the right photographer and videographer to capture everything at the ceremony and reception (and of course all of those first kisses as a married couple).

With camera prices lowering and YouTube tutorials abundant, there are so many people taking up photography and videography and opening up their own small businesses. Although an increased number of photographers and videographers is great news for brides and grooms planning a wedding, you may find it difficult to navigate through a wide range of quotes.

When you're looking for the perfect photographer or videographer for your big celebration, you'll want to ensure that you're getting the best deal for the best service. Here are a few tips to remember when pricing these professionals.

Always, Always Know Your Budget

Before you even begin calling up anyone, you need to have a good idea of how much you'll be able to spend. Generally, wedding photography/videography should be about 10 to 12 percent of your overall budget. This number could probably be expanded if you are getting married in the off-season, you aren't inviting a lot of guests to the wedding, or if you are planning on DIYing part of the decorations to help save money.

Once you have a number in your head that you feel is about right, start browsing portfolios on the web, Facebook, and Instagram and request quotes from your favorites.

Ask About What Packages Your Photographer/Videographer Offer

Although every photographer and videographer is different, they will typically charge by the hour or offer a few packages to choose from.

For example, the cheapest package from a videographer or a photographer might include five hours of work (which may or may not include engagement photos) and photo editing. The middle package might include eight hours of work, plus an additional person with a camera to capture things behind the scenes. The third and most expensive package might include unlimited hours, plus a second photographer, and possibly even printing services.

When asking about package prices, write everything down and try to get as many quotes as you possibly can so you can do a proper compare and contrast.

Be Honest When the Package Price Is Too High

The most important thing to remember when having quote conversations with your photographer or videographer is to be honest when it comes to your budget. If you really love a certain person's style but they are charging $4,000 when you can only squeeze in about $2,500, you don't want to take up too much of their time or offend them with a low-balling offer. However, if you are honest about what kind of budget you have, they might be able to come up with a smaller package that will fit more easily in your wedding budget.

But, you have to remember that they are running a business, and if that's their going rate, then there's not a whole lot you can do about it. Although it may be tempting to spend the majority of your money on beautiful photographs or the perfect wedding video, you still have to make the rest of the wedding happen on your budget, so be cautious when booking.

Be Wary if the Price Is Too Low

Just as you should tread lightly if someone's prices are too much for your budget, you should also be cautious if the photographer or videographer's prices are much too low for the market. Ensure that the photographer or videographer has an established website, social media following, and legitimate Yelp or Google reviews or customer testimonials on their page.

Although it's possible that you are getting an exceptionally good deal from a very talented professional who is just starting out, you want to be sure that the person who is capturing your wedding is professional, prompt, and can actually get in there and get the memories you want to capture. You only get one chance to get that first kiss, after all!

Ask About Extras

When pricing photographers and videographers, you really want to be sure to ask whether or not extra things such as lengthy travel to the wedding venue, bridal portraits, boudoir photos, or an engagement photo sessions are included. If they aren't, ask how much extra the services would be and if they would charge by the hour or just add it to your existing package. In other words, you want to get a clear idea of what kind of cost you're looking at from the time your photographer or videographer turns on their camera to the time you get a link to download your photos or a Vimeo video of you walking down the aisle.

Be Sure You Connect

Pricing for wedding videographers and photographers may vary, but you should also think about how well you connect with the person (or team) capturing your wedding. Are they mispronouncing your fiance's name or mixing up the family tree? Do they not understand your style at all and suggest things that you absolutely hate? Even if the price is right, they might not be the right professional for you.

Source: Pricing Wedding Photographers and Videographers

Peak Design Everyday Sling is a great daily carry bag for more than just photographers

I rarely leave the house without a bag on my shoulder.

Like many, I enjoy the security of knowing I have necessary gear with me (think laptop, battery, cables, camera) everywhere I go, and I understand that that means I also have to deal with that gear — typically in a bag. Size, comfort, flexibility (physically and conceptually) and style are all factors when choosing one. I've tried a lot of different bags for this sort of "daily essentials" set of stuff I carry on most days, and my current favorite is the Peak Design Everyday Sling.

You may recall that I previously used a different messenger-style bag from Timbuk2, and I actually still do! That's a great general-purpose messenger bag that can hold a whole lot of stuff and do a whole bunch of different things. But what I love about the Everyday Sling is that it isn't as multi-purpose oriented — it's small, structured and doesn't have a ton of expandability. It's just the right size for the things I need to carry every day, and that's it.

See at Amazon

Peak Design, as a company, is primarily focused on photographers — but the features and quality of the products in produces are often applicable to more than just that small set of people in that specific use case.

The compact size and structure of the Everyday Sling has many benefits. First and foremost is comfort. With a bag this small, I'm never tempted to load it up with more than I should carry. That's because the bag just simply won't hold that much stuff, and that keeps the weight down and my shoulder happy. The frame of it is relatively structured with little stretch or play, meaning you can't even force more into it if you wanted to. At the same time, that structure makes sure your things are safe inside if you get bumped when standing on the train or walking down the street.

The tight size and structure of this bag is exactly what I need to keep from killing my shoulder.

Peak Design markets the Everyday Sling as being 10 liters in size — but thinking about a bag in terms of liters doesn't always equate. Here's what I typically carry in my Everyday Sling: a 13-inch MacBook Pro (just barely), a micro four-thirds camera with an extra lens, a bundle of a couple cables and a small backup battery, and a few knick-knacks like keys, business cards, a pen and a pair of earbuds. That's basically all this thing can hold, and that's exactly why I love it.

The main compartment has a slot for a laptop or tablet, and then two of Peak Design's amazing padded separators. If you haven't seen them in action, basically they're stiff foam dividers (positionable with velcro) that are split down the middle that can be folded down in various configurations to properly secure and separate items in the bag so they don't slide around. They keep things accessible and also properly managed, which is key to a bag this small.

It's amazingly easy to swing the bag around, get what you want and be on your way.

The focus on accessibility carries over to the way the bag compartment opens: it zips around the back and hinges on the front, so the inside is wide-open accessible when you're still wearing it and simply sling it around to your side. Most messenger-style bags open toward you, and the flap of the bag gets in the way of seeing or reaching into the compartment. With the Everyday Sling, it's super simple to swing the bag around to your side, open it up, grab what you want, zip it closed and be on your way.

On the outside of the bag you get a small compartment with dividers where you can toss all of the aforementioned smaller items. From the outside, there's another shallow pocket that's perfect for an extra phone or couple of cables that you want to separate from the larger items inside and have easily accessible without opening the full bag compartment.

A great daily carry bag at any price.

Many people will scoff at the Everyday Sling's $149 price tag, but for a bag that I'm going to carry just about every day and just exudes quality craftsmanship it's worth it. Every seam is perfect, zippers are tight and lock into place (and are water resistant), the materials are hearty, and most importantly it's clear just how much engineering and thought went into every aspect of the bag. Like the way there are dedicated spots on both sides for Peak Design's own Capture Camera Clip, how the dividers work, or how the excess bag strap stows away in the back of the bag so it doesn't flap around at the ends.

I wouldn't take a weekend trip with the Everyday Sling, nor would I expect to carry around my full rig of trade show gear. But those situations aren't what the bag is designed for — and it shows restraint in having a specific vision and usefulness. Right now it's the perfect bag for me to keep all of the necessities handy on a daily basis without being overbearing or goading me into carrying more than I should realistically be putting on my shoulder. To fulfill this need, it's a damn good bag at any price.

See at Amazon

Source: Peak Design Everyday Sling is a great daily carry bag for more than just photographers

Making a Swift exit! Taylor and her boyfriend Joe Alwyn race past photographers after a night out

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 16:59 EDT, 10 September 2017 | Updated: 17:05 EDT, 10 September 2017

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She's made a fortune from mining her love life into material for her chart-topping tracks.

But despite having reportedly inspired her flirty new hit Ready For It, it seems Taylor Swift is determined to keep her romance with Joe Alwyn under wraps.

The pair darted past photographers on Saturday night, as they returned to Taylor's apartment after a night out at a friend's party.

Making a Swift exit! Taylor and her boyfriend Joe Alwyn race past photographers after a night out on Saturday

Taylor, her legs on show in a mini skirt and boots, followed in the wake of British actor Joe.

In a complete change from her previous relationships - which she has plastered over social media - Taylor has deliberately attempted to keep her romance with Joe out of the spotlight.

But that doesn't mean Joe hasn't been an inspiration - with fans speculating that he is the boy she sings about on her new track.

Home they go: Taylor, her legs on show in a mini skirt and boots, followed the British actor

Low key: Taylor has been quietly dating Joe since last year

Hiding away: Taylor has kept out of the spotlight after becoming uncharacteristically private in recent months (seen last month)

Her lyrics include: 'Knew he was a killer, first time that I saw him, wonder how many girls he had left haunted.'

She goes on: 'Some boys are tryin' too hard. He don't try at all though. Younger than my exes but he act like such a man so I see nothing better, I keep him forever.' 

Indeed Joe, 26, is younger than previous loves Tom, 36, and Calvin, 33, and made his movie debut as a solider in the 2016 film Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.

Taylor has been quietly dating Joe since last year, choosing to keep their romance away from the limelight, which means if Ready For It? was penned about Joe, it's the first time she's publicly acknowledged the relationship.  

Lovers: Joe Alwyn and Taylor started dating last year (file pictures)

 

Source: Making a Swift exit! Taylor and her boyfriend Joe Alwyn race past photographers after a night out

National Geographic’s Renowned Photographers Inspire Authentic Travel with Travel-Themed Flash Print Sale

WASHINGTON – WEBWIRE – Thursday, September 7, 2017

Starting Saturday, Sept. 9, for eight days only, National Geographic is holding a travel-themed flash sale featuring prints by 25 National Geographic photographers whose powerful visual storytelling has long-inspired others to seek out the world's most remote destinations. The photographs, which provoke the pursuit of authentic travel experiences, will be available for a limited time only as signed, museum-quality, 8" x 10" prints priced at $100 each. Featuring work by Aaron Huey, Jodi Cobb, Amy Vitale, William Albert Allard, Michael "Nick" Nichols and David Guttenfelder, the collectible prints can be purchased at www.NGCreativeFlashSale.com from Sept. 9 through Sept. 16 at midnight EDT.

The sale, presented by National Geographic Creative, is a unique celebration of places far and wide from across the globe and the rich diversity of planet Earth. National Geographic photo editors collaborated with Nat Geo Creative staff and National Geographic Director of Photography Sarah Leen to curate the selection of images. National Geographic is overseeing the production of the premium, unframed prints, which will be made on Fuji Crystal paper and signed by the respective photographer.

"Our renowned photographers have traveled to the farthest corners of the world to capture these breathtaking images. By sharing the beauty of the planet through these signed prints, we hope to enlighten others with new perspectives of the world and perhaps even to inspire them to embark on their own journey to a new destination," said Alice Keating, senior vice president, National Geographic Creative.

About National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 129 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching over 760 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com 

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Source: National Geographic's Renowned Photographers Inspire Authentic Travel with Travel-Themed Flash Print Sale

38 Essential Software For Photographers

When it comes to choosing software as a photographer, there's much more to think about than just which editing program you'll be using. Of course, you'll want to utilise the best programs possible while still trying to not spend too much of our cash so below, we've put together an essential list of software, both free and paid-for, you can use to kick-start your photography journey / business.

There is lots of software available so please do add any recommendations you have in the comments below so the list can be expanded. 

You can navigate to specific tools via the options listed below:

Writing & Saving Documents  Google Docs 

You're going to need access to spreadsheets and other documents and with Google Docs you can create and edit web-based spreadsheets and more for free. Everything is stored online and can be accessed from any computer / smart device, plus there are templates available for creating a variety of documents should you need help with the layout / design of specific files. The documents are also shareable and can be accessed as well as edited by multiple people at one time. Basically, you can create spreadsheets, written documents, lists etc. 'in the cloud' without paying a penny which means you don't have to spend money on what can be expensive office packages. 

Evernote - Stay Organised 

You're going to need software that keeps you organised and Evernote can help you do this. It works with Google Drive and there is a free version available. With Evernote you can take notes, share data with others, jot down a reminder or capture a picture of something you want to save for inspiration. You can also set reminders for events / meetings and organise documents so everything is in one place. 

 

Libre Office 

At some point, you're probably going to need a spreadsheet or perhaps you'll want to pen a letter of thanks to a client and to do this, you're going to need an office suite. LibreOffice is a free, open source office suite that includes Writer (word processing), Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw (vector graphics and flowcharts), Base (databases), and Math (formula editing). It's available on Windows, Mac and also Linux. 

Cloud Storage    Google Drive 

With a Google Drive, you get 15GB of free storage space and it works with Google Photos, Gmail and Google Docs. You can also scan all your paper documents with Drive for Android. Just capture a photo of documents like receipts, letters and statements – and Drive will store them instantly as PDFs meaning you can work paperless if you so wish. Files can be made available offline so you can view them even if your connection to the internet. If you do need more than 15GB of storage, you can pay monthly for 100GB, 1TB or 10TB of data. 

  Dropbox 

Cloud storage is an easy way you can back up your images from shoots and also share your work with others. As mentioned, on a Google Drive you get free storage space but you may want to add to this without paying for it and one way you can do this is with Dropbox. You do only get 2GB of space, though so for a professional who can capture hundreds of images on one shoot it's probably not going to be enough but you can combine it with other free cloud storage services to give you more space. If you did want to upgrade the amount of room you have in your Dropbox, it's £6.58 a month for 1TB of storage or there's a Business account that gives you 'as much space as you need' for £15 a month/user. 

Other free online storage services include iCloud (5GB free), Amazon Cloud Drive (5GB free) and OneDrive (5GB free, 1TB for students). 

Online Presence  Wordpress Blog

A website and / or blog can be a great way to get your name 'out there' and with Wordpress, you can have an online presence quite quickly. It's probably the easiest and most powerful blogging and website content management system (or CMS) in existence today. However, even though you can use some of what Wordpress offers for free, you still need to purchase a domain name and hosting for your website but by using something like Wordpress, you can save yourself a little bit of cash. 

Photo Community

 We know this isn't technically 'software' but by joining a photo community such as ours, you can share your images online, ask for feedback and advice and also check out a few articles that might help you improve your technique or simply give you inspiration for your next shoot. It's good to surround yourself with people who have similar hobbies/jobs, plus we have lots of giveaways which mean you could see your kit list growing without paying a penny for it.

  Time Management Tools    Asana

Asana is a task management tool that can be used by an individual or a team. You can create tasks, projects, and conversations, all of which are managed via a dashboard that are accessible via desktops as well as on mobile devices. You can see the progress of projects, add notes to them so you have a string you can refer to and tick tasks off as they're completed. There's also a 'due date and time' feature that will send you reminders of when projects are due which is handy for those with really busy schedules or the individual who tends to forget things easily. There's a calendar, tasks can be assigned to individuals and it can also be integrated with Dropbox, Chrome, Google Drive and other programmes. 

StudioCloud

If you're a one-man-band then you can use StudioCloud for free. It's business management software that allows you to manage clients, create schedules, invoice and book keep, plus allow clients to quickly make bookings with you online. There are loads of other things this time management tool can do, plus it's available on Mac, Windows, Android and iPhone. There are paid for options which allow more people to access the StudioCloud and prices start at $35 a month. 

Studio Ninja

This is another studio management package that has a free option for those who work solo with the option to upgrade to paid-for versions (starts at $21.55 USD a month) once you expand your team. Studio Ninja reminds you when tasks are due, it can automatically send pre-written emails, chase up overdue invoices and much more. It offers online invoicing and credit card payments as well as a calendar so you can clearly see what jobs are coming up. There are plenty of other tools and features built in that are designed for photographers, too. 

  AcuityScheduling

Offering a freebie level is something many studio management software companies seem to favour and AcuityScheduling is no different, however, it seems a little more limiting than other free levels with seen. The paid-for levels do offer a wide range of tools such as scheduling, reminders and online payment system. 

Photo Editor  Free Online & Desktop Apps

There are plenty of free photo editing apps online as well as free photography apps available in the Windows, iOS and Play stores. They don't tend to offer some of the advanced tools you find in paid-for applications such as those from software giants Adobe but they are useful for making basic edits to images. We're not saying you'll want to use them permanently but for quick adjustments, you may find them OK.

  GIMP

There's also GIMP which is free to download and use. GIMP is a cross-platform image editor that's not only free, it's also open source so you can change its source code and distribute your changes. It's very popular but if you've used Adobe products in the past, in can be hard to get your head around at first but as with anything, once you've used it for a while, you do get used to the way it works. 

  Back-Up Software & AntiVirus  Crash Plan 

Technology is great but it can go wrong and if something does break, you don't want to lose all of your images and other documents. To prevent this from happening, you're going to need to back your data up and with CrashPlan, you can currently do this for free. We say 'currently' as the free version is getting phased out and you'll have to opt for one of the paid-for options instead.

  Avast AntiVirus 

Avast antivirus and antispyware protection is available for your PC, Mac and Android devices. It's free to download and promises to not slow your computer down. The free version stops anything nasty, captures emerging threats, helps with password management and gets rid of unwanted extensions in browsers. 

 

AVG Antivirus Free

Another popular antivirus software is AVG and they too offer a free version. In the free download, you'll get antivirus which blocks viruses, spyware and other malware, remote protection so you can scan using your mobile, link protection that scans links, an easy to use dashboard and Mac & Android protection. 

Communication  Skype 

Skype is a free, web-based service that you can use to make calls on as well as chat with people via a messenger system. Calls can be voice only or made as a video call and it's available on mobile devices as well as desktops. Skype-to-Skype calls are free but you will be charged if you ring mobile or landline numbers. You can also create group chats/ calls as well as speaking to individuals. It's a great way to put faces to names when organising shoots with brides to be as well as a useful tool for talking to your team of make-up artists and other assistants in one place. 

  Photo Editor - Adobe  Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud Photography Plan 

Adobe is the name most will think of when you're asked to name a photo editing software creator and this option from the software giant gives you access to Photoshop CC and Lightroom CC for 12 months. With Lightroom, you can organise, edit and share photos while Photoshop gives you all of the tools you need to retouch and edit photos. It's priced at £109.99 and is available for PC and Mac. 

Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud 

This is a 12-month license that gives you access to the full version of Photoshop. The software is downloaded and installed on your local computer, plus any updates as soon as they are released. You also get access to 20GB of cloud storage and versions for both Mac and PC are available. It's not cheap, though, with a year's license costing £205.78. 

Adobe Lightroom 6

Adobe Lightroom is incredibly popular among photographers as you can use it to organise your photos as well as edit and export them. It's easy to use and more reasonably priced than the Photoshop option coming in at £103.88 for both the PC and MAC versions. 

Adobe Photoshop Elements 15

If you don't want to spend quite as much cash on your editing software or be tied into a subscription system then Photoshop Elements may be for you. It's kind of a cut-down version of Photoshop and even though it doesn't offer quite as many tools as Photoshop does, there's still enough available to make edits and adjustments to photos. 

Photo Editor - Adobe Alternative  Corel PaintShop Pro 2018 

PaintShop Pro 2018 is the latest version of Corel's photo editing software that's billed to rival the most advanced photo editing and design suites currently on the market. It's also subscription free and easy to use for all levels of ability. Those looking for an Adobe alternative should take a long hard look at Corel PaintShop Pro 2018 as we're more than happy to 'Highly Recommended' it.

 

Serif Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is a Mac app that's designed to be a direct competitor to Adobe's Photoshop that comes with plenty of tools, features and some interesting touches that should get even the biggest Adobe fan's ears pricking up. Affinity Photo is available from the Mac store as a one-time purchase for £48.99.

Online Presence  foliopic 

foliopic is a template based website design package built with photographers and artists in mind. No software or website knowledge is required to get your website live and there are templates you can use to help create your site. Prices start at £19 (per year) for a basic account while a Pro account is priced at £139 (per year). 

 

PhotoDeck 

Another popular website CMS provider is PhotoDeck. Professionals use PhotoDeck for Portfolios, Secure Proofing and for creating e-Commerce websites. There are 3 options available: Folio - £8 / month, PRO - £17 / month and STUDIO £38 / month. 

Wix

Wix.com is another leading cloud-based development platform with millions of users worldwide. With the Wix website builder, you can create a fully personalised website. There are 5 monthly price points available which start at £2.55 a month and rise to £15.57. 

 

Squarespace 

Squarespace is an all-in-one platform that gives you all of the tools you need to make your own website. Two plans are available which can be paid monthly or billed annually. Personal is £10 per month if billed annually or £13 month-to-month. Business, which offers more features, is priced at £15 per month is billed annually or you can pay £21 on a monthly basis. 

Microsoft Office is the name that probably springs to mind when you think about tools that can help you produce spreadsheets and word documents. The Microsoft Office Home and Business 2016 Licence Key is available for £174.99 for Windows and £156.49 for MAC. With it you get Office 2016 versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook.

Account & Time Management Software  Quickbooks 

Quickbooks is designed to make accounting simple for small business and help you save time on the accounting tasks you do most. It's easy to learn and use, with no accounting knowledge necessary. It's available at different price points, via monthly subscriptions or you can pay a one-off fee over on Amazon but it is a sizeable chunk of cash. 

Xero 

Xero is cloud accounting software that's designed to be used by small businesses. You can log-in online anytime, via a variety of devices and it comes with a wide variety of useful features. Prices start at £10 per month for a 'Starter' account and rise to £27.50 per month for the Premium account. There's a middle option priced at £22 per month if the 'Standard' version is more your liking. 

Project Managment Plus 

Project Management Plus includes 4 professional project planning/management applications to keep you on track and organised. There is an app for planning / budgeting, one for managing activities, a diary / organisation tool and a resource and event scheduling system. It's surprisingly reasonably priced at £5.99. 

AntiVirus & Backup Software Norton Security Deluxe

Norton Security defends against viruses, spyware, malware and other online threats. It secures multiple PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets with a single subscription and with Utilities you can recover damaged or deleted files, clean and speed up your PC, fix common issues and errors, maintain your digital privacy and improve PC performance. A 12-month license for Norton Security Deluxe - 1 User, 5 Devices and Utilities is priced at £22.99.

McAfee Total Protection

McAfee is another popular choice for those looking for antivirus protection. It guards against viruses and online threat as well as a variety of other useful tools. It's priced at £17.99 and can be used on PC, MAC, Android and iOS. 

 

Kaspersky Total Security

As with all internet security, Kaspersky offers different plans depending on how many devices you'd like to cover and it's available for PC or MAC. The software safeguards privacy, defends against internet threats and simplifies security management. A 1-year multi-device plan that covers 10 devices is priced at £23.99. 

 

Bvckup 2

Bvckup 2 is backup software that's quick, can backup in real time or run backups at fixed time intervals, all for the reasonable price of $39.95 for a Professional license. 

Miscellaneous Amazon Prime 

We're not saying you won't be able to be a photographer without this and we know it's not software but, it does give you access to unlimited photo storage as well as over a million ebooks, some of which are probably photography related so you can expand your photographic knowledge. It also gives you access to unlimited 1-day delivery (handy when you need items quickly). Amazon Prime is available on a 30-day free trial then after the free trial has ended, Prime Membership is priced at £7.99 a month or you can purchase the annual plan for £79 (equivalent to £6.58 per month).You can cancel your membership at any time. 

Source: 38 Essential Software For Photographers